Friday, December 2, 2016

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Fr. Frank Pavone’s video on the 7th day of the Election Novena. This controversy exists on at least three levels: 1) the use of the unborn child’s body, 2) the use of the altar and 3) a priest openly supporting a political party. Honestly, I am wondering why this is such a big deal.

Dignity of the Dead and An Aborted Baby

I don’t see exploitation here. The child was already dead and was being held up as proof of the evils of abortion. Why is using an aborted baby to give witness to the atrocities of abortion undignified? This poor discarded child is dead and being prayed over and held as an example of the evils of abortion. The sight of the dead baby on the altar was difficult to see but the child was in the fetal position, a perfectly dignified position.

The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy; it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit.

However, in this case, I don’t see where Fr. Pavone treated the child’s body with disrespect or against charity. Yes, the body of a third-trimester child is naked on the altar. Yes, this child has been chemically burned in the ultimate act of disrespect of abortion. Could Fr. Pavone have clothed the child? Of course, but is it necessary? No. This child is a ‘poster-child’ of what abortion really is. It really results in these tiny humans being burned and dispelled from their supposedly ‘safe haven’ of the womb. Yes, it is shocking. Yes, it is horrible.

Sacredness of the Altar

As Catholics, we believe our altars are sacred. Many hold ancient relics from the bodies of saints. The altar is typically used for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr. Pavone placed this aborted child on the altar and began speaking of how that tiny human was a witness to the atrocities of abortion. I guess I just don’t understand what the big controversy is about; our Pope has even had a beach ball on the altar. Yet, here is a priest who has dedicated his life to defending the unborn making a profound symbolic statement by placing an unborn child who has been sacrificed on the same altar used for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Separation of Church and State

I think what really has people up in arms is that Fr Pavone was brave enough to call out the Democratic Party and candidate based on the issue of abortion. There are arguments based on the fallacy that the Democratic Party wants to make abortion “rare” and thus more pro-life than Republicans. It is the State who is infringing upon the Church. Christian business owners are forced to close down or bow to the LGBT movement. The Democratic Party Candidate herself said the Catholic Church would have to change its moral compass in order to continue in the United States of America. Christians are labeled backward and ignorant, simply for standing up for their Faith. How could a priest not endorse the Party or Candidate standing in defense of religious liberty and life?

Fr. Pavone wasn’t using the dead child for monetary gain nor was he acting as a paid spokesperson for the Republican Party. Fr. Pavone was making the public aware of the evil of abortion. He was speaking the truth about the Republican and Democratic parties and using the Truth from God as well as the truth from these Party Platforms to inform voters.

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Guest Contributor: Erika Vandiver

Erika is a former Forensic Biologist for the State Police with a BS in Molecular Biology. In her almost 10 years as a Forensic Biologist, she developed a respect for law enforcement and assisted in many criminal cases. She is a self-professed biology and Catholic nerd–reading anything and everything in an effort to keep abreast of new revelations. This came in handy when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer while 20 weeks pregnant. She chose to ignore the doctors’ options of abortion or delaying treatment and instead received chemotherapy while pregnant. She and her little chemo baby girl are alive and well, giving witness to their incredible story. She credits the world-wide Catholic community and the support of her family–especially her husband of 10 years–for the blessing of her daughter’s and own survival. Her miracle baby girl has an older brother as well as four saint-babies in Heaven.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

The contentious nature of the 2016 political season exposed a division so wide as to have literally split our nation in two. Even the Catholic population has displayed an appalling chasm of difference. That so many Catholics have increasingly found it acceptable to fervently support champions of abortion is heart-rending. The hearty support of candidate Clinton by abortion giant, Planned Parenthood, made her position on abortion well known. While it is understandable for the people who make up the Body of Christ to disagree about how to address certain issues - be they immigration, just war, or care of the poor – a divide encompassing the most fundamental right, life, is incomprehensible. After all, abortion is intrinsically evil and never an acceptable action.

The hard-fought election has passed, a president-elect has been chosen, and yet we struggle with appallingly diverse feelings and opinions. Never in my lifetime have I seen political division escalate to such a frenzy after the votes have been counted and an election has been decided. Yet those who voted for Hillary Clinton, a staunch fan of abortion up until the minute of birth and beyond, refuse to let go of their vitriol. Riots are devastating cities and lives across our nation. Calls of “not my president” are heard in all corners of America.

Worship at the Table of Planned Parenthood

As horrifying as this glaring lack of unity is, what troubles most of those of a conservative bent is the activities of Planned Parenthood – the abortion giant that is not only responsible for the majority of abortions but also the sale of unborn baby parts.

A dear friend of mine is mourning the lack of civility, even humanity, this morning as some of her close friends gleefully publish stories that Planned Parenthood Confirms It Has Received 20,000 Donations in Mike Pence’s Name Since the Election. In response to these donations, Pence will receive a disingenuous thank you certificate for each one. As a US Senator, Pence initiated a bill to defund Planned Parenthood in 2007 and continues that goal to this day. His persistence and pro-life successes have raised the hackles of pro-abortion advocates over the years, which explains this effort to embarrass him.

The age old question, "why?", garners no acceptable answer. My friend ponders further, “Do they NOT get what Planned Parenthood is?” In the past, heart to heart conversations with these individuals about abortion and Planned Parenthood seemed to resonate with her friends. Yet they are now willfully blind to the harsh reality that is abortion. It can be understandable that some women do find themselves in dire straits, dire enough to consider choosing death for their unborn child. Nevertheless, it is simply unconscionable to consider abortion as being something to celebrate. A donation in the name of Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, appears to be a soulless tactic that at the same time encourages the intrinsic evil of abortion and runs counter to his pro-life public life.

Respect for Life Largely Decided the Election for Many

One of the main reasons many voted for Donald Trump had to do with his promise to defund PP and to appoint justices who held a constitutionalist position. Newly elected US House Speaker, Paul Ryan, has recently reiterated the intent of this governing body to defund Planned Parenthood - an effort that fell to an Obama veto. This may well spur the death of the contrived ‘right’ to abortion in the future. The despondency felt about our tax dollars funding this killer of our progeny is palatable. Any hope of cutting our ties, albeit unwilling ties, resonates as a source of progress to those who are weary of the Culture of Death.

So why are those dissatisfied with the election outcome resorting to funding abortion? Why are people who on the surface appear to be godly, becoming cheer leaders for death?

Satan wants to shake us to our very core. His use of our close friends is but one tactic he employs to shake our foundation to its core. These individuals are doing the work of the evil one. In their unrequited distress at having experienced an unexpected political loss, their minds are distraught and their consciences distorted. In the words of Jesus, "They know not what they do"

Our only recourse is to remain strong in Truth, charitable in demeanor, and to turn to Our Lord Jesus Christ in sincere and fervent prayer. Our work is not finished. As we have in the past, we must boldly witness to the evil that is abortion. Our friends and neighbors need to be lovingly educated about God as the author of Life. We must stand by them all in prayer and have faith that our witness, with grace from the Holy Spirit, will pierce their hearts and souls.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Our daughter had regular ultrasounds to check the progress of her pregnancy, while undergoing chemotherapy.

When a pregnant woman receives a cancer diagnosis, there is much to consider. Yet a little known fact is that cancer does not necessarily mean chosing between the life of the baby or mother. Contrary to popular thought both can safely live. This aspect of oncological medicine is actually not news at all. Decades of successful, safe treatment of mothers with a cancer diagnosis has been occuring for decades – at no danger to any of their unborn children.

As we close October as Breast Cancer Awareness month, we should focus on a perpetuated lie which becomes deadly for either mother or child. Cancer organizations, as well as ill-informed physicians, too frequently convince women that an abortion is necessary – to save the life of the mother, should she be diagnosed during pregnancy. According to their recommendation, she otherwise risks her own life in an unnecessary bid to save her baby – leaving a child without a mother.

Why Women Are Left Uninformed?

Why is this scenario so common? Why do mothers feel driven to decide between their own lives and the lives of their unborn children? One reason is obvious. Abortion is a lucrative business. If women can be pushed into subscribing to unsubstantiated fear, there is money to be made – millions of dollars, annually for abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

The reason doctors fail to inform their patients is a bit more cryptic. Perhaps it has to do with keeping patients in their hometown medical facilities. Personal experience has taught us that doctors often prefer local treatment to referral to out-of-town specialists. An obvious conclusion could then be discerned as a desire to keep ‘business’ at home.

The Truth of Cancer Treatment during Pregnancy

Cancer treatment facilities such as MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX have an astounding success rate of healthy births to cancer stricken mothers. Somehow the news just isn’t getting out into the population at large. Although there are numerous medical journals, success stories, and peer contacts, too many doctors still seem to be in the dark. Whether or not this is a matter of willful ignorance or lack of training, remains an unknown.

Breast Cancer While Pregnant Gets Personal

At twenty weeks pregnant, our daughter was diagnosed with BRCA1 breast cancer – a particularly destructive form present in our family genetics. With dire past maternal outcomes – death within weeks or up to five years –aggressive treatment was in order to save her life. There was no time to lose. Aborting her unborn daughter was an inconceivable option.

Unfortunately, our daughter was given limited options. In consultation with local doctors, it was implied that she had two choices. The first was to terminate (read kill her child through abortion) and then aggressively treat her BRCA1 cancer. The second implication was that she could wait out her pregnancy, at great physical harm to her own health. As a molecular biologist with a gift for research, however, neither answer was satisfactory. Since she was able to access and read medical journals, our daughter did her own research. As a result, she found her answer in Houston, TX.

Making an Educated Decision

Armed with the knowledge of a third, much more palatable choice, a trip to Houston resulted in a chemotherapy regimen, to begin immediately. Two weeks before birth, further treatment was postponed to ready her body for childbirth. Her 8+ lb. healthy daughter was born on Thanksgiving Day and scored a perfect 10 on her Apgar test. The miracle of life, confirmed she had made the correct, pro-life decision.

Sharing the Pro-Life News

Part of our gratitude for finding such a positive outcome to a frightening scenario finds us proclaiming the good news to everyone we meet. Mothers, nurses, and even doctors are often amazed that they have never heard about this decades old treatment option. The goal of sharing this life-affirming option is a catalyst for an annual sharing of the facts. Please consider passing the word along – a life may be hanging in the balance, even as you read these words.

Amid all of the superficiality of pink month - pink football teams, toilet paper, blenders, and every other imaginable product of commerce - lies an undeniable fact. The PINK lulls the masses into misguided, yet enthusiastic support for death. Yes, death. What they don't tell you, these opportunistic marketers, is that it's all about the money - even if it's blood money. As an eleven year survivor, I have earned the right to make these distinctions and comments.

Cancer Awareness Run Amok

Breast cancer is certainly not the only cancer affecting a huge population. There are others just as devastating, warranting 'awareness', moral treatments, and a cure. While it's not a competition, why discount childhood cancer, for example, because it hasn't been as artfully marketed?The answer is that these other cancers are at a disadvantage because the powers that be can't make sexist sound bites about them. No, 'save the Ta-tas', 'save the Boobies' and playing games about the color of ones' bras is so much more titillating (see what I did there?).

The 'awareness' organizations have lots of overhead, pay huge salaries, and spend enormous amounts of the funds collected as donations on marketing. They don't even play nice with each other, jockeying around for the big bucks. One year Susan G Komen even tried to co-opt the color pink and sued smaller organizations for using the word 'cure' in their slogans!

The American Cancer Society and Komen are also supporters of embryonic stem cell research. This research kills tiny human beings - containing the complete package of humanity including an eternal soul - and yet has given us no viable treatments or cures. Unlike ethical adult stem cell research, with many success stories, the attraction for the Frankensteiniam use of embryos comes down to money.

You see, adult stem cells can't be patented - they already belong to you. But embryonic cell lines created in a lab present a high dollar wager and promise government grants galore.An even more unholy alliance comes with bedfellows, Komen and abortion giant Planned Parenthood. Although PP does not a single mammogram, they are given large sums of funding from Komen every year. PP where abortion represents 94% of all prenatal 'services'.

Save the Babies, Save the Victims

I'm not here to denigrate the good intentions of others; my intention is to steer those giving hearts into an ethical direction. There are cancer victims galore out here - all sorts of cancers. Why not consider giving directly to a victim, attending fundraisers, sending prayers and cards of encouragement, cooking meals, helping with children, or cleaning houses of those affected? The opportunities are as countless as the victims of this horrific disease. Further, there are moral organizations worthy of your funds and support: The Polycarp Research Institute (TPRI), the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation® offer such opportunities.

All in all, people are kind and generous. They innocently fall into the commercial trapping of the PINK crowd. My aim is to steer them and their good will into a direction worthy of their charity. God bless them for their kindness! My daughter and I have been lifted up by many.

Designs by Birgit

Birgit Jones is a 50-something cradle Catholic who is passionate about the Church and the prolife movement. A graduate of Brescia University, she has employed her Bachelor of Art degree in pursuits ranging from Executive Director of Right to Life groups to Field Representative to Congressman Ron Lewis (R-KY).

She has been married to her Catholic convert husband, Rick, for 40 years. They have four children and eight living grandchildren (all age eleven and under). Their frequent visits eliminate any fear of an empty nest!

Birgit can also be found on her personal blog Designs By Birgit and Facebook fan page Designs By Birgit, where she utilizes her advertising and public relations experience to promote Life through her pro-life memes.